BBC - History - Prince Edward's wedding (pictures, video, facts & news) Prince Edward's wedding Prince Edward's wedding 19 June 1999 Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones at St George's Chapel in Windsor. At the couple's request, the ceremony was primarily for family and friends and did not follow the pattern of previous royal weddings. Photo: Prince Edward, his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones and her pageboys and bridesmaids leave St George's Chapel in Windsor after their marriage, 19 June 1999. (Press Association) Introduction Prince Edward and Sophie's public romance A look at the differing childhoods and career paths of Edward and Sophie, leading up to the announcement of their engagement. A look back at the differing childhoods and career paths of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhy-Jones, leading up to the announcement of their engagement. Prince Edward announces his engagement Prince Edward announces his engagement to Sophie Rhys-Jones and their plans for a family wedding at Windsor. Prince Edward announces his engagement to long-term girlfriend Sophie Rhys-Jones, and their plans for a family wedding at St George's Chapel, Windsor.

Crowds cheer the wedding of Prince Edward to Sophie Peter Hunt reports from Windsor as crowds gather to cheer the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. Peter Hunt reports from Windsor as crowds gather in the streets outside St George's Chapel, to cheer the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones. Highlights from Prince Edward's wedding Jennie Bond reports on the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Jennie Bond reports on the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones at St George's Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle, before family and close friends. This event features in: More information about: Prince Edward's wedding How the couple met Prince Edward, the third and youngest son of the Queen, was born on 10 March 1964. Educated, like his brothers Charles and Andrew, at Gordonstoun in Scotland, he became head boy and excelled in drama. He also showed an early interest in the media and listened to the radio avidly. He read history at Cambridge University where he continued his theatre interests. After university he entered the Royal Marines but resigned his commission three years later.

Keen to pursue his love of acting and performing, he began television presenting. In 1993 the prince set up his own television company, Ardent Productions, (notable for producing It's a Royal Knockout). Sophie Rhys-Jones was born in Oxford on 20 January 1965. After attending school and college in Kent, she worked for a London public relations firm and later a radio station. It was at a strategy session for a charity event that the pair had their first formal meeting in 1993. Their relationship began soon after, and their engagement was announced in January 1999. The wedding day Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys-Jones at St George's Chapel in Windsor. The Queen revived the 11th Century title of the Earl of Wessex for the groom, and the bride became Her Royal Highness, the Countess Wessex. Prince Edward walked to the chapel for the late afternoon ceremony with his two supporters, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew. Sophie arrived traditionally late and climbed the steps of the chapel accompanied by a fanfare from the band of the Royal Marines.

She wore a dress designed by Samantha Shaw, which consisted of a long fitted coat with long sleeves and an ivory train, made from hand-dyed silk organza and silk crepe, with rows of pearls and crystal beading. She also wore a diamond tiara from the Queen's private collection and a pearl necklace. At the couple's request, the wedding was primarily for family and friends and did not follow the pattern of previous royal weddings. Guests were asked to wear "evening dress" and no hats. However, the Queen Mother did wear a lavender hat. Princes William and Harry, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie attended, but the Duchess of York was not invited. After the ceremony a procession of open-topped, horse-drawn carriages carried Edward and Sophie to the reception at St George's Hall in Windsor. The Earl and Countess of Wessex spent their honeymoon at Balmoral. Life after the wedding The royal couple have had two children, Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, born November 2003, and James Alexander Philip Theo, born December 2007. The Countess of Wessex continued working in PR until 2002.

This was also the year that Prince Edward stepped down from his role at Ardent Productions to concentrate on public duties. Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones | Unofficial Royalty Wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones by Susan Flantzer and Scott Mehl Learn More About Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones Family of Prince Edward HRH The Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis was born March 10, 1964 at Buckingham Palace, London. Andrew was the fourth, and last, child of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh. Edward’s older siblings are Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, born in 1948; Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, born in 1950; and Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, born in 1960. On his wedding day, June 19 1999, Edward was created Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn, breaking with the tradition of a dukedom granted to the son of the Sovereign upon marriage. However, it was announced that Prince Edward will eventually be granted the Dukedom of Edinburgh, currently his father’s title, at such time when it has reverted back to the Crown.

Family of Sophie Rhys-Jones Sophie Helen Rhys-Jones was born January 20 1965, in Oxford. She was the second child of Christopher Rhys-Jones and his wife Mary (née O’Sullivan). Sophie has an older brother, David. Sophie was named in honor of her paternal aunt, Helen, who had been killed in an accident some years before Sophie was born. Engagement and Ring At the announcement of the engagement On January 6, 1999, Prince Edward held a press conference to announce he and Sophie Rhys-Jones were engaged to be married. It was the culmination of a long courtship, beginning in 1993 when the two renewed a casual acquaintance at a Real Tennis Challenge, hosted by the Prince. Ms. Rhys-Jones, the public relations executive handling the event, was reportedly “charmed” by the youngest of the Queen’s sons, and he with her. While the two publicly maintained they were merely good friends, it became apparent they were spending considerable time together when Ms. Rhys-Jones was photographed at various Windsor family occasions.

Several times, Prince Edward took the press to task for badgering Sophie, leading many royal watchers to believe there might be more to the relationship than met the eye. Finally, after seeking permission from her father, the Prince asked Ms. Rhys-Jones to marry him over the 1998 Christmas holidays. In accepting the Prince’s proposal, Sophie also accepted an exquisite engagement ring. Because Diana and Sarah Ferguson had colored gemstones in their engagement rings, the superstitious Sophie insisted upon diamonds only. A cluster of three were set in white gold; a creation of royal jeweler Asprey and Garrard and estimated at $170,000. Rumors abounded that Sophie gave Prince Edward a marriage ultimatum, and that they lived together prior to the wedding; rumors which have been denied by both bride and groom. The Prince said that while the love affair was not a sudden strike of lightning, he and Ms. Rhys-Jones are the best of friends and very much in love. Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; MSNBC The Attendants As with many European weddings, Sophie’s attendants were young children.

Sophie and Edward carefully chose the four bridesmaids and pages, who were each special in some way. Eight year old bridesmaid Camilla Hadden was the oldest of the children. She is Edward’s goddaughter, and the daughter of his friends Abel and Belinda Hadden. Mr. Hadden was, at one time, the press officer for Margaret Thatcher. Next in age, at seven, was page Felix Sowerbutts, the son of Julian and Lucinda Sowerbutts, who are friends of Sophie’s from well before the beginning of her public relations career. Six-year old page Harry Warburton, the son of Sarah Warburton, who was Prince Edward’s Assistant Private Secretary, and also happens to be the Prince’s godson. Ms. Warburton was instrumental in many of the wedding preparations. Five year old Olivia Taylor was the second bridesmaid. She is the daughter of Ian and Lindy Taylor, some of Sophie’s oldest friends. Prince Edward also had two individuals who stood with him at the ceremony: Prince Charles and Prince Andrew. At most weddings, their roles would be considered that of Best Man. However, in royal circles, they are termed “Supporters”.

Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; British Royal Website; MSNBC; The Guardian Wedding Attire Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones had already decided their wedding would be different than most royal events, and their wedding clothes, while traditional, also carried their own stamps of individuality. It had been speculated that Sophie’s gown would be relatively simple, given the style of her chosen designer, Samantha Shaw. While the cut of the dress was simple: a hand-dyed ivory silk crepe corseted coat over a hand-dyed ivory silk organza skirt, it had the sparkle of 325,000 hand sewn cut-glass and pearl beads, as well. The beads decorated the deep V-neckline, which extended both in front and in back; as well as the slightly flared sleeves. Beads also cascaded down the cleverly designed train, which was sewn in panels so it would pleat out behind the bride as she walked down the aisle. Ms. Rhys-Jones also wore a hand-dyed silk tulle veil one inch longer than her train, which was dotted with occasional hand sewn crystal beads, and supported by a diamond tiara borrowed from the Queen’s private collection.

Her shoes were also ivory silk crepe, and her bouquet consisted of ivory garden roses, stephanotis, lily of the valley and freesia. Her most remarkable accessory, however, was the beautiful black and white pearl necklace and matching earrings designed by Prince Edward as a personal wedding gift. The Prince looked dashing in formal morning dress, with a lively yellow waistcoat made especially for the wedding by John Kent. He also wore a blue shirt with white collar and a patterned blue and yellow tie. He, too, wore a special accessory: an 18 carat yellow gold Hunter pocket watch and chain given to him as a wedding gift by Sophie. The young attendants were dressed in the Plantagenet style. The bridesmaids wore ivory silk taffeta dresses with navy silk velvet tunics decorated with gold braid, and feather trimmed velvet hats. They each carried a small bouquet of heavily scented flowers tied informally with ivory ribbon. The pages were dressed in navy velvet knickers and tunics with brass buttons over ivory taffeta shirts and accented with taffeta cummerbunds. They, too, wore velvet berets with feathers.

The mother of the groom, remembering the day over fifty years before when she pledged her troth to Prince Philip, wore the pearl necklace, dainty pearl and diamond earrings and diamond brooch she donned on her own wedding day. Lovely in a lilac lace and chiffon gown by Sir Hardy Amies, a feathered hat in a similar hue completed the ensemble. Sources: BBC News; London Telegraph; MSNBC; SkyNews Wedding Guests The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother The Prince of Wales Sources: BBC; CNN; British Monarchy Website The Ceremony As a televised audience of 200 million looked on, a throng of eight thousand locals fortunate enough to have been chosen to represent the residents of Windsor lined the drive leading up to Windsor Castle, witnessing the bride’s arrival in a vintage black Rolls Royce. The bride acknowledged the cheering crowd before entering the house of worship, where a new phase of her life as the Countess of Wessex would begin. As the clock struck 5 P.M. the passionate strains of “The Marche Heroique” echoed through the chapel as the bride made her way past such illustrious witnesses as Sir Andew Lloyd Webber and David Frost to stand at the altar by her intended.

A forty-five minute ceremony followed, in which the bride was presented with a wedding band which, in the royal tradition, was fashioned from Welsh gold. At the conclusion of the nuptials, the Toccata from the 5th symphony and The Coronation March– Crown Imperial escorted the newly betrothed up the aisle. Following the ceremony, the new Earl and Countess of Wessex rode in an open carriage to the reception at Windsor Castle, greeting thousands of well-wishers who had come out to celebrate their marriage. The Wedding Reception Five hundred fifty guests gathered in the State Apartments of Windsor Castle for a feast fit for a king, complete with smoked haddock with rice and mushrooms in pastry, beef stroganoff and fresh raspberries for dessert. Attendees also nibbled on a seven-tier wedding cake adorned with sugar roses and fruit by Upper Crusts Country Kitchen before taking to the dance floor, where it was reported that the Queen danced along with her grandchildren to The Village People’s “YMCA.” The Honeymoon The Honeymoon: The couple chose Birkhall Lodge, located five miles from Balmoral, for their four day honeymoon.

The venue’s romantic past (Prince Philip, the groom’s father, proposed to the future Queen of the United Kingdom at the locale) makes the lodge a sentimental favorite among members of the royal family. The secret of Sophie the Countess of Wessex's success | Royal | News | Daily Express ROYAL The secret of Sophie the Countess of Wessex's success As the royals gathered at Windsor to celebrate Easter it was the Countess of Wessex who, for once, caught the eye. 00:01, Tue, Apr 2, 2013 Sophie is secure in her place within the Royal Family Normally content to blend into the background, Sophie’s figure-hugging pencil skirt and peacock-feather hat drew gasps of admiration. It was not only the style but the vivid electric blue colour which grabbed attention. However, this was more than a middle-aged woman with an enviable figure making a fashion statement. Sophie, once a hapless junior royal who had a habit of landing herself in hot water, has undergone a transformation over the past few years. She is now a woman of 48 who is confident of her place within the heart of the Royal Family.

After previously struggling with the demands of simultaneously trying to be a career woman and royal wife, she is at ease. Driving this confidence is Sophie’s excellent relationship with the Queen. It was also notable during their public appearance at the weekend how Sophie was never far from the side of her mother-in-law, who has recently recovered from a bout of illness. Sophie has always been a favourite daughter-in-law of the Queen and it’s not hard to see why. Former Royal correspondent Jennie Bond The pair have become close confidantes, something which would never have seemed possible during Sophie’s ill-fated days in public relations. In fact the Countess of Wessex and the 86-year-old Monarch enjoy a unique, generation-spanning friendship. The bond is said to be much closer than with the spouses of any of the Queen’s other children. The two share a passion for horse riding and military history and are known to exchange books on the subject. Sophie is also a regular guest at Windsor. In return, the Queen is said to turn up unannounced at the Wessex home, Bagshot Park in Surrey, for tea.

On a deeper level the Queen, mindful of the difficulties Diana Spencer and Sarah Ferguson had in adapting to royal life, is a big admirer of the way Sophie turned her life round after those early mishaps threatened derailment. First an old photograph, taken before Sophie’s marriage to Edward, had come to light in which the radio presenter Chris Tarrant was seen pulling up her bikini. She was the innocent victim of a schoolboy prank but it hardly helped Sophie’s desire to be taken seriously. Sophie enjoys an excellent relationship with the Queen The low point came in 2001 when Sophie was tricked into making indiscreet comments by a reporter claiming to be an Arab sheikh and potential client of her PR company. Sophie made remarks about members of the Royal Family and rode roughshod over the convention that members of the Royal Family should never give a public view on politics. She called Tony Blair “ignorant of the countryside”, said wife Cherie was even worse, claimed William Hague was “brilliant” and described fox-hunting as “just vermin-control”. The scandal caused huge embarrassment for the Queen and left lingering doubts over Sophie’s judgment.

At the time it appeared that the Countess was determined, apparently against the advice of Buckingham Palace, to plough a furrow as a career girl while also being a member of the Royal Family. Sophie was also widely attacked for allegedly using her royal status to win lucrative contracts. It seemed a classic case of trying to have her cake and eating it too. However, the fake sheikh incident proved to be a watershed in Sophie’s life. Gradually she scaled down her PR work and became a fully-fledged royal, with the usual array of charity interests. Sophie has established herself recently as a key member of the Royal Family The official reason given for both Sophie and Edward giving up their businesses was to support the Queen in her Golden Jubilee year. It might not have gone down well in some quarters but for traditionalists, including the Queen, it was the right step when she stopped being Sophie Rhys-Jones to focus on being the Countess of Wessex. Every firm needs its toilers, while others take the accolades and it’s been pointed out that Edward and Sophie seem to get more than their fair share of run-of-the-mill official engagements.

Last week she shivered as she opened a new college building in Sandwell, West Midlands, causing barely a ripple of interest elsewhere. Yet when Buckingham Palace was deciding who should be sent to Gibraltar last year the politically sensitive job went to the couple. It was seen as a measure of the high regard the Queen now has for Sophie that she was entrusted with the task. Likewise, when the Queen was recently struck down by a stomach bug, it was Sophie who stepped into her shoes and hosted an event at Buckingham Palace for British politicians. Initially Sophie is said to have resented having to sacrifice her career but there was also another big change in her life which softened the blow and changed her aspirations After previously suffering an ectopic pregnancy, Sophie became a mum in 2003 and again four years later. She is known to have had IVF in between the two pregnancies. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond says: “Sophie fits very well into the Royal Family because she is so unassuming. It might have jarred with some younger women when someone like Kate Middleton came along and got all the attention but Sophie was able to put it in perspective. In fact, she quite likes having less of the spotlight.

“Sophie has always been a favourite daughter-in-law of the Queen and it’s not hard to see why. The Queen liked both Diana and Fergie but there were problems with their marriages to her sons so they could never be bosom pals, whereas Edward and Sophie seem to be happy and have always been solid.” The Countess of Wessex is considered by some observers to be the most regal of all the wives and Jennie adds: “Sophie is quiet, demure and respectful. She has been willing to learn from her mistakes and gave up her PR career when it became obvious there was a conflict with her position in the Royal Family. “In her early days she was nothing worse than naive but, ever since, she has thrown herself into her royal duties and not put a foot wrong.” Britain`s Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, centre, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, left, and Sophie The Queen is said to dote on Sophie’s two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James Windsor, Viscount Severn. In particular, the bond between Sophie and her mother-in-law is said to have been cemented by their mutual concern for Louise.

The Queen’s youngest granddaughter, a bridesmaid at the wedding of Kate and Prince William, suffers from a serious eye condition called exotropia which may eventually require surgery. A sure sign of the affection between the Queen and Sophie is the frequent appearances of the Countess in the Monarch’s carriage at events such as Royal Ascot. The Countess is privileged enough to be the only member of the Royal Family to ride in the State Limousine with the Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day. The Queen is also said to be very fond of Sophie’s widower father, Christopher Rhys- Jones. There must also be a sense of gratitude that Sophie’s marriage to Prince Edward is still going strong after more than 13 years. Of the Queen’s four children, it’s the only first marriage to have survived and she is especially protective of her youngest son. In her younger days Sophie is once said to have proclaimed herself the “saviour” of the Royal Family – a working wife who would become its modern face. Despite suggestions that she would like more responsibility she’s become more of a workaday royal, going uncomplainingly about the ribbon-cutting.

As her eye-catching performance at the weekend demonstrates, she’s also become something of a fashion icon who is renowned for her understated style. Classic with a modern twist sums her up perfectly. She is also reported to be working with a personal trainer, which is clearly reaping dividends. She might still be low profile but Sophie deserves our recognition and not just for the outfits she selects from her wardrobe. In every sense, the Countess of Wessex is a model royal. Related articles Move over, Duchess Kate: Sophie Wessex is Queen Elizabeth’s favourite | canada.com Royals Move over, Duchess Kate: Sophie Wessex is Queen Elizabeth’s favourite Sophie, Countess of Wessex, poses for a portrait in the courtyard of the Islamic Museum of Art on the first day of her visit to Qatar in September. Photo: Chris Jackson, Getty Images comment Published: November 25, 2013, 5:13 pm Updated: 3 years ago A A A When Queen Elizabeth once remarked that Sophie was the sort of girl you wouldn’t notice in a crowd, she meant it as a compliment. Pretty Sophie Rhys-Jones, later to become the Countess of Wessex, was charming, friendly and unobtrusive.

She was also careful not to upstage her royal paramour, Prince Edward, yet be at his side if he wanted her there. Last week, the Countess stepped out of the shadows and on to several front pages, when she hosted a Doctor Who reception at Buckingham Palace. Dressed in a figure-hugging burgundy dress, the 48 year-old was photographed laughing with four of the Doctor Whos, inspecting a Tardis and meeting a Dalek. It was a very public appearance for one of the more retiring royals. PHOTO: Eddie Mulholland, WPA Pool/Getty Images Sophie, Countess of Wessex is seen during a reception to mark the 50th anniversary of the hit TV series Dr. Who at Buckingham Palace on November 18. PHOTO: Eddie Mulholland, WPA Pool/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth is said to enjoy spending time with the easy-going Sophie. And this was not her first. During the past few weeks, the Countess has embarked on an official visit to South Africa with Prince Edward, on a solo tour of India and Qatar, and has been photographed at the recent Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall breaking into tears when relatives of Afghanistan war heroes walked on to the stage.

Television viewers of the ceremony said on Twitter: “Seeing Sophie with tears was a very emotional moment.” She was also emotional earlier this year when she unveiled a memorial to those who had worked in British coal mines during the Second World War. Sophie’s schedule of royal engagements is becoming increasingly busy, and seasoned royal watchers have noted that she appears to be taking a more high-profile role. PHOTO: Chris Jackson, Getty Images Sophie watches 3-D surgery demonstrations at Qatar Science and technology Park on her visit to Qatar. The Countess is a favourite with the Queen. From the very beginning, Her Majesty recognised Sophie’s suitability as a royal companion – long before her youngest son did. To assist the slow-burning romance, the Queen took the unprecedented step of allowing Sophie a royal pass to enter Buckingham Palace and stay overnight in the royal apartments if she wished. Meanwhile, Prince Edward had gone to elaborate lengths to protect Sophie’s privacy and keep her name out of the newspapers. When he telephoned her at her office, he used the alias “Richard”; and when he picked her up at her west London flat, his detective would ring the doorbell and escort her to the car.

But it was to no avail, as in December 1993, their secret was revealed when the News of the World splashed it across their front pages, much to Sophie’s distress. Over the next six years, Sophie was to become the first “ordinary” girl from a working family – raised in Kent, Sophie’s father was a retired tire salesman and her mother a secretary – to negotiate that yawning social chasm that separates mere mortals from the Queen’s immediate family. Sophie and Edward married in St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in June 1999. The early evening ceremony was a first for the Queen — and she demonstrated her affection for the couple by hosting a grand reception at Windsor Castle and giving them the title the Earl and Countess of Wessex. PHOTO: Phil Noble, AFP/Getty Images His Royal Highness Prince Edward and his bride Sophie Rhys-Jones became the Countess of Wessex when she married Prince Edward. PHOTO: File, AFP/Getty Images Sophie and Edward hold their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, who was born prematurely. Prince Andrew took the photograph as the Royal Family gathered at Sandringham for Christmas in 2004.

PHOTO: Ben Stansall, Getty Images Prince Edward and Sophie leave the hospital with their new baby boy in 2007. Yet despite having the support and growing affection of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the Countess was to suffer some unpleasant public humiliation. In 2001, an undercover reporter posing as an Arab sheikh recorded her making disparaging remarks about the British government and appearing to use her royal status as a tool to gain clients for her PR company. Her image was badly damaged and she was forced to “shut up shop” and concentrate on royal duties. Still, she remained coolly determined. It was only after an ectopic pregnancy in December 2001 — when she was airlifted to hospital for surgery to remove the fetus from a Fallopian tube — and after months of unrelenting criticism that Sophie came close to a breakdown.

“Whatever I do,” she said, “I just can’t win.” PHOTO: Sinead Lynch, AFP/Getty Images A newspaper stand displays a copy of the British tabloid newspaper “The Sun” which ran on its Page 3, normally reserved for pictures of topless models, a topless photograph of royal bride-to-be Sophie Rhys-Jones in May 1999. The revealing picture, taken in 1988, showed Sophie with a British DJ. Two years later, in December 2003, Sophie had a daughter — not without difficulty, again, as she nearly died in childbirth and the baby, Lady Louise Windsor, remained in intensive care for several weeks. Four years later, James, Viscount Severn, was born, and Sophie’s hard-fought-for family was complete. According to friends, since becoming a mother, Sophie has also become far more relaxed. The scars of the public humiliation remain, but she now seems able to let go and enjoy herself, as witnessed last week with the Doctor Whos. “Sophie has been through some trying times,” says a friend.

“Edward has always been her shoulder to cry on and has seen her at her lowest ebb.” Working hard has been Sophie’s way of dealing with life’s problems, be it official engagements or meetings with the many charities and regiments she represents. By royal standards, the marital home of Bagshot Park is a small household and run efficiently, with only a housekeeper, a couple of daily cleaners, a gardener and butler-cum-general factotum, who does everything from answering the telephone to serving at mealtimes. Meanwhile, Sophie’s PA works from Buckingham Palace, dealing with her growing mountain of correspondence, and helps the Countess when she attends many of her evening receptions alone. I have witnessed her on several occasions and she always seems willing to give just that little bit more. Yet it can be a lonely existence; it is always exhausting, and you sense that what Sophie wants more than anything is time to be at home with her children. PHOTO: Danny E. Martindale, Getty Images Sophie attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2013 with her daughter, Lady Louise. Over the years, the Queen’s support and affection have boosted her confidence, and the bond between them is being keenly observed in royal circles.

They both share an interest in military history, and at family gatherings the two are often locked in conversation. It is usually Sophie whom the Queen asks to share her car when she is being driven on non-official occasions. PHOTO: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images Sophie in California in 2002. A few years ago, Sophie went on a private weekend to the battlefields of both world wars in Normandy and the Somme, while Edward was in Beijing for the Paralympics. She describes herself as a history buff and is fascinated by details of military conflict. She enjoys the Queen’s encyclopaedic knowledge of historical events, and the two women will disappear for hours in the royal archives at Windsor. Courtiers have noted that Sophie, to some extent, has filled the gap left by Princess Margaret and the late Queen Elizabeth. “If Sophie wasn’t there, the Queen would only have a lady-in-waiting for those feminine chats she likes,” says a royal aide. “The Princess Royal is very close to her mother, but is hardly ever there, while Sophie is around a lot.” The Queen’s friendship is just what Sophie needs to give her that extra poise.

Lately, she appears to be paying more attention to how she looks, dressing in brighter colours, experimenting with her hair and trying new designers. Instead of feeling threatened by a younger princess in the shape of the Duchess of Cambridge, she has embraced her role and maybe subconsciously upped her own game. “She radiates happiness,” says Laura Benjamin, one of her designers. “I think she enjoys looking good and doing good.” PHOTO: Chris Jackson, Getty Images The Countess poses for a portrait in the courtyard of the Museum of Islamic Art. “She’s incredibly driven,” agrees her former business partner, Murray Harkin, who now has his own PR firm. “I see her now being a princess, not just playing the part of a princess. In spite of her recent publicity, she is taking care not to be too high-profile for the sake of her children’s privacy. But just you wait. She might take us all by surprise and be that superstar we want her to be in her own right.” Ingrid Seward is the editor-in-chief of ’Majesty’ magazine Sunday Telegraph, London The Wessex question: Are Prince Edward’s children... The Wessex question: Are Prince Edward’s children secret HRHs?

There is general agreement amongst royal title fans that the children of Prince Edward are legally a Prince and Princess, whatever they are styled currently. However, when you start to delve into the constitutional complexities of titles, do these arguments really stack up? It was a bright August day, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. All over the country, people were heading out to enjoy a rare taste of good British weather. I however – perhaps unusually for a 17 year old – was plonked firmly in front of the TV in eager anticipation. For that day, 19th of June 1999, was not just one of the first really nice days of the year – it was the wedding of Prince Edward, the Queen’s youngest son to the beautiful and charming Sophie Rhys-Jones. Budding royal watcher I may have been, but even I had had second thoughts about exchanging this viewing appointment for a trip to the beach or a walk on the moor. However, within minutes of the television coverage starting, I knew that it was worth the sacrifice.

For not only was the wedding itself a beautiful occasion, with Edward’s subtle wink at Sophie as she walked up the aisle and the heart touching kiss on the cheek after the ceremony - this wedding was the wedding for royal title shockers. First was the announcement that Edward had been created Earl of Wessex – a romantic title for sure, but not the Dukedom that was expected. Then came the news that he would one day succeed to his father’s title of Duke of Edinburgh, something that has caused mental somersaults for title fans ever since. But without a doubt, the most interesting news of the day was the announcement that with the couple’s consent, the Queen had decided that any children of the marriage would be styled as the children of an Earl rather than with the royal titles that they would be eligible for under the 1917 letters patent (hereafter, LP17). And sure enough, within a few years theory became reality as the Countess of Wessex gave birth first to Lady Louise Windsor in 2003 and James, Viscount Severn in 2007.

Even at the tender age of 17, I was not one to question the Queen’s decisions on such matters but I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. The reason given for the change was that it would mean the Wessex children would be more able to live normal lives away from the public glare. In all fairness, this seems to have happened – Lady Louise and Lord Severn certainly seem to receive less attention than their York cousins did at the same age – but at the time I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all part of an attempt to scale down the royal family, something that I desperately didn’t want to happen. However, a few years later, I discovered the internet, and a host of like-minded folk who were plagued by this very same concern. Here I learnt, by leaning on their collective wisdom, that all might not be lost. The press release issued at the time of the Wessex wedding, these super-cool royal watchers supposed, was not sufficient an instrument to deprive the children of their rights under LP17. Therefore they might be styled as the children of an Earl, but they are legally HRH Princess Louise of Wessex and HRH Prince James of Wessex.

This argument was not of course without flaw – I’ve never particularly believed that they could be legally ‘of Wessex’ any more than Beatrice is legally ‘of York’; surely this is just custom – but in general, it was good enough for me. As far as I was concerned, the more Princes and Princesses there were kicking around the better and any argument that suggested this was the case was always likely to get my vote. However, more recently a few things have given me pause for thought on the strength of this position and this blog post is an attempt to explore them and invite conversation. Without a doubt, the best source of royal title information on the internet is run by François Velde. Velde opposes the view that a press release was not sufficient to amend LP17 by focusing on the fact that it is the will of the sovereign that matters, not what instrument is used to communicate it: “At the time [of the wedding / Lady Louise’s birth], many people have expressed the notion that a press release was not sufficient to modify the Letters Patent of 1917, and that Louise could not be deprived of her “rights” without letters patent.

The fact is that royal styles and titles are a matter of royal prerogative that does not require the advice of the government (the Letters Patent of 1917 were issued without any such advice). The sovereign’s will and pleasure is all that matters, and she can change styles and titles as she pleases. How that pleasure is publicized, by letters patent, warrant, press release or verbal declaration, is immaterial” This is certainly a compelling argument. By profession I am a PR guy (I’ve got quite a cool job you see, that’s why I’m allowed a geeky hobby like this) so I understand exactly what a press release is intended to do. They are an organisation’s or individual’s way of letting the outside world know about a decision that has been made or an event that is happening. They are not a means of decision making or an instrument of authority – simply a way of communicating that a decision has been made and that authority has been taken. Upon doing a little bit or research, it would seem that historically, letters patent performed much the same function. In the earliest days of their usage, letters patent severed not as an instrument of decision making but as a way of recording a decision and making it known to relevant audiences.

Good old Wikipedia even defines them as a ‘form of open or public proclamation’ which sounds very press release-esq indeed. The oldest peerages in the country were not – as far as we know – created with letters patent. We simply know about them from records that show them being summoned to parliament. In these cases it doesn’t seem to matter how the peerage was bestowed – it only matters that we can prove that bestowing it was the will of the sovereign. When viewed in this light, it is very difficult to see how the argument that the Wessex children are ‘legally HRH’ really stacks up. However, as often with these cases I am still in two minds (I’m quite a strong ‘P’ on the Myers-Briggs scale if anyone’s interested). Although letters patent may at one time have been the medieval equivalent of a press release, rightly or wrongly, they do seem to have acquired more significance. The first thing to flag of course is that when Princess Patricia of Connaught chose to relinquish her style upon marriage in 1919 and become Lady Patricia Ramsay with precedence above Marchionesses of England, her cousin, George V made this official by letters patent.

Times have of course changed since 1919 and one could argue that press releases are now so much more a standard way of doing business that they could be seen to carry greater significance. However, just three year before Prince Edward’s wedding, when wanting to make it crystal clear that the former Princess of Wales and Duchess of York would lose the style of ‘Royal Highness’ upon divorce, the Queen issued letters patent. This was the establishment of a general rule and is of course different to the situation with Lady Louise and Lord Severn. But, nonetheless it is clear that the Queen still uses letters patent to make changes to royal titles. The fact that she didn’t in the case of the Wessexs could be significant. So, in summary, where are we? Well, to start with, various online sources including Wikipedia must be wrong in stating to clearly that the Wessex children are legally a Prince and Princess. It is very difficult to even know what this means. Being a Prince or Princess is not – to the best of my knowledge – a position that conveys any legal right or privilege. This is different to the Camilla situation, whereby she will be legally Queen even if not addressed as such.

Being Queen (even Queen Consort) is a position that is enshrined in law. I’m not entirely confident that this is true for Princes and Princesses - even the obscure systems of precedence do not explicitly reference the princely style – just relatives of a sovereign. The only privilege of being a Prince and Princess is therefore to be styled as such. The Wessex children clearly aren’t. However, there is an argument to say that upon coming of age they could choose to be so. If this happens there are two scenarios that I can conceive: · The first is that the then sovereign (be it Elizabeth, Charles or William) would approve this change and this would be an implicit endorsement that this title is their birth right. · The second is that the King or Queen does not approve the title. Then, they would have the option of contesting their case in the courts (I should flag, I think this is highly unlikely to happen). Should the courts rule in their favour – which I would argue, they probably would - then the monarch would be forced to issue new letters patent explicitly depriving them of the HRH and Princely style (think Duchess of Windsor).

So, to conclude: my view is that, given the fact that letters patent still seem to be used as the legal instrument for changing titles, the Wessex children could choose to style themselves Prince and Princess if they wanted to. However until they choose to do this and it is sanctioned either by King or courts – and let’s face it, it’s very unlikely to ever happen– we won’t actually be able to say this for sure. It is also, in my view, a nonsense to say that they are ‘legally’ a Prince or Princess rather than just saying that they could legally assume the style. A rose by any other name may still be a rose. I’m not convinced that the same rule applies to Princes. BBC NEWS | Special Report | 1999 | 06/99 | royal wedding | Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie Saturday, 19 June, 1999, 20:17 GMT 21:17 UK Wessex titles for Edward and Sophie The Earl and Countess of Wessex Prince Edward has been made Earl of Wessex and Viscount Severn in honour of his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones.

Sophie will now be styled Her Royal Highness, the Countess of Wessex, shortened to simply Sophie Wessex. It has also been agreed that Edward will also become Duke of Edinburgh after the death of his mother, the Queen, and his father, Prince Philip, who currently holds the dukedom. It is believed to be in recognition of his work with the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. In a modernising touch, the couple's children will not be given the style His or Her Royal Highness, "but would have courtesy titles as sons or daughters of an earl". The decision reflects "the clear personal wish of Prince Edward and Miss Rhys-Jones as being appropriate to the likely future circumstances of their children," said a spokeswoman before Saturday's wedding. But some constitutional experts say that Edward has been slighted, because he should have received a dukedom. Edward will be Duke of Edinburgh when his parents die The title of earl is more usually conferred on commoners who marry into the royal family. Both of Edward's brothers were made dukes when they married.

Harold Brooks-Baker, publishing director of Burke's Peerage, said the decision to make Prince Edward an earl rather than a duke indicated that he would play a minor role in public life. "He is the first son of a monarch in this dynasty going back to George I not to be made a duke. He has been promised the title of Duke of Edinburgh but we don't know if there will be a monarchy in the future. "For his children not to be styled prince and princess is a huge departure as well." Wessex made famous by Hardy The title Earl of Wessex has not been used since the 11th Century, when the last earl, King Harold II, was famously killed by an arrow through the eye during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Wessex: Not used since the Battle of Hastings The tribal kingdom of Wessex was established in the 6th Century and grew to include most of southern England by the time of King Alfred. The term Wessex died out but was revived in the 19th century by the Dorset poet William Barnes and made famous by author Thomas Hardy.

The general consensus is that Wessex covers Dorset and Hampshire but also includes parts of Wiltshire, Berkshire and even Devon and Somerset. Historian Dr David Starkey said: "The title itself is a total fiction. There is nowhere called Wessex...the title has not been used for a thousand years - is it the right way to celebrate the third millennium by going back to the first?" The title Viscount Severn is derived from the Welsh roots of Miss Rhys-Jones's family. Mr Brooks-Baker said the title was "of little significance". "Viscount Severn was used by minor members of the royal family years ago. It is an 18th Century title. There is a history of being given a secondary title so the eldest son can have it is a courtesy title," he said. WATCH/LISTEN Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones | Whose Royal Marriage Lasted? | Us Weekly Whose Royal Marriage Lasted? The Queen's union is going on 60 years. Others, not so much Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones After saying "I Do" in 1999 at St.

George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the couple refused the HRH title for their children, who are known as Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, instead of princess and prince. Credit: Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty

Question: What title did Sophie Rhys-Jones receive after her marriage to Prince Edward?
Answer: Countess of Wessex